NBC Today ShowтАЩs Matt Lauer in Laos - Laos as Visa Run?

[1PR4BKK]

The last time I was in Thailand I made a couple of visa runs to Cambodia and HK. I never thought of going to Laos. The guys from there are beautiful so I guess I should have considered it a destination for a side trip from Thailand.

This morning (Eastern Time USA) Matt Lauer of the NBC morning "Today" show revealed his exotic location as Vientiane, Laos. After watching this program I am taking the bf there for our next side trip from Thailand. Have any of you had much experience with Laos? I will be in Thailand in a few months and would like to get any suggestions as far as places to visits and nightlife (if any). I really canтАЩt wait to go to Vientiane and the temples there so I will certainly do my research on that one.

For those of you are not familiar with Matt Lauer or NBCтАЩs Today Show I have provided the following link: http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/24375784/

I would studiously avoid visiting anywhere Matt Lauer has set his worthless foot.

Have any of you had much experience with Laos? I will be in Thailand in a few months and would like to get any suggestions as far as places to visits and nightlife (if any).Try a {Search} of this Forum and Utopia's always worthwhile - http://www.utopia-asia.com/tipslaos.htm

There was also at least one great Laos trip post over on the old Pattayagay Forum that I bookmarked but it seems to have expired - you can try this as well - http://www.travelfish.org/country/laos

I would studiously avoid visiting anywhere Matt Lauer has set his worthless foot.

Well, well! You see we agree on some things SS!

Matt was such a sissy. He made a huge deal out of eating an insect, making a face and refusing to swallow as the camera failed to fade him out. After finally swallowing he, of course, had to open his mouth to prove he swallowed. I know that all of the real men here on Sawatdee are REAL MEN, love "Bugs and Beer" :drunken:, and will swallow anything. :drunken:

... and will swallow anythingMost seem to be swallowing The Lad's latest story about being based in Singapore

[1PR4BKK]

Sure, Matt Lauer is a bit of a sissy at time. I always thought he was an undercover man-loving freak. I used to have a big crush on him. IтАЩd still do him.

Anyway, as far as going to Laos, are there any suggestions on where to go for gay activities there?...Night clubs, bars, anything? Thanks for any suggestions fellas.

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[TrongpaiExpat]

1PR4BKK where is your BF from? If he's Issan odds are he will be able to speak enough Lao to get along quite well. If he's Central Thai, Lanna, Bangkok or from the south he will not.

My BF is from Nong Khai (Issan) and we went to Lao a few years ago, he had no problem communicating but he did not feel comfortable in Lao. The one thing the Thai education system does is install a strong sense of Thai identity. He and his family essentially speak Lao as does the whole region but they don't give it much thought. They are Thai and those across the river are Lao . None of his friends or family have ever been to Lao, what the point of going there I was told.

If you BF is ThaiChi, be prepared for some incredibility pregidous remarks about Lao people.

[fedssocr]

I get the impression that Laos is fairly conservative like the rest of the communist countries in that part of the world. You can see the Sticky Rice listings as well which are pretty slim pickin's
http://www.stickyrice.ws/?view=directory&country=la

Purple Dragon has tours in Laos so you may want to take a look at their site. But the prevailing opinion I have seen is that you go to Laos as a respite from Thailand's more "out there" style. I am headed to Luang Prabang and Vientiane later this year and I am really looking forward to it.

[yaraboy]

There is a bit of a scene in Lao. In Luang Prabang Kob Chai Bar and Lao Lao Restaurant gay owned and frequented. In Vientiane Pak Luk Bar is a gay bar. Kob Chai Der Bar and adjoining fountain area good for cruising.

I like Lao because of the quieter way of life and under developed nature of the place. Bangkok is nice for 3 or 4 days then off to the mountains and rivers of Lao for me..................with my Lao BF !

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[sjaak327]

I love Vientiane and Laos. Great food, the best beer in SEA, it's cheap and laid back. Not much Gay nightlife, as a matter of fact, not much night life at all. Most bars close around 12 or 1 at the latest. Kob Jai Due is indeed a nice bar, but not gay. There are some discos that will have gay clients, there is one not far from Kop Jai Due, towards the river on the left side of the street, this place is open later then 1am.

then it was the turn of the boys. Well, they well more effeminate than any of the real females ...

Did you get a stiffy?

What I can't figure out is, once you've met your Lao Boy Special, how do the two of you make it to your hotel room. I read an article not long ago that said hotels require a male farang and female Laotian to produce some kind of proof that they are married. I don't know if this is true but I'm curious about how a gay farang can get his Boy Special past the hotel desk.

[1PR4BKK]

Thanks for the suggestions guys. Although, gay venues are not a necessity, they would be cool to find and visit with the bf.

I am curious to know about the policy of not being able to bring a Laotian guy back to the hotel room. That is a real problem since my bf and I like to play together.

TrongpaiExpat, my bf is Indonesian and we both speak Thai. We will still be typical visitors to Laos. I really think Laos will be a nice get-away from the hustle and bustle of BKK.

[sjaak327]

What I can't figure out is, once you've met your Lao Boy Special, how do the two of you make it to your hotel room. I read an article not long ago that said hotels require a male farang and female Laotian to produce some kind of proof that they are married. I don't know if this is true but I'm curious about how a gay farang can get his Boy Special past the hotel desk.

Have been able to check into numerous hotels in Vientiane with my Lao boyfriend, there is nothing stipulated in the law regarding same sex partners.

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[yaraboy]

Just heard that Pak Luk, the only gay bar in Vientiane has closed.................Poor location and personal problems of owner

A few important things to know before you take the visa run to Laos.

A visa will be required but can be easily obtained at the Friendship Bridge by most farang after filling out the same questions on numerous forms. Have two passport photos is a good idea, though I think only one is required. The price has jumped to U.S. $29.00 for most farang, except only Canadians who must pay $35.00, probably for some reason.

There are many places to get a visa between the train station and the bridge. I do not know if they are better priced or whatever but I have never heard any complaints.

The trip from the train station in Nong Khai to the Friendship Bridge should cost you 20 - 40 baht depending on the number of persons in the tuktuk. At the bridge you will need to pay an additional 10 baht for the bus across the Mekong, which never seems to have the entrance/exit on the correct side (that is the sidewalk side - like Bush airport in Houston), poosibly caused by the confusing situation with the change from left-side to right-side driving conventions. After all thai immigration/lao visa/customs formailities you will have to pay another 10 baht customs fee. You'll be quoted 300 baht for the taxi service to Vien Chang but you can bargain this down to 250. It takes about forty minutes and there are no more oxcarts (fully paved). All that is plus tips, of course.

The taxi drivers can be very helpful in finding accomodation, but if no else just get off in Fountain Sq. and walk around. There are numerous guest houses available.

[yaraboy]

For those of you with an idealistic view of Lao and Laotians


Word Of Warning In Vientiane

I was recently travelling in Laos, I met three gay locals (guy, sur and sol if thats the real alias), I enjoyed their company over a milkshake, they offered to bring me to the only gay bar in town.

I enjoyed the first part of the evening but cant remember the second part, I woke up to find all my valuables gone, including passport, money, phone etc.

I had been drugged and was the victim of Laos thives. When I awoke I had a massive head ache and felt very tired and groggy.

This is my second time to the Laos capital and in general the people are very nice. When I spoke about this to some local expats they said that this particular type of crime is becoming very common in Vientiane amonst a specific group of gay locals.

For any one who has experienced this type of crime before they know problems that this causes you and the terrible feeling that stays with you.

Take extra care with new gay friends in Vientiane.

[sjaak327]

A few important things to know before you take the visa run to Laos.

A visa will be required but can be easily obtained at the Friendship Bridge by most farang after filling out the same questions on numerous forms. Have two passport photos is a good idea, though I think only one is required. The price has jumped to U.S. $29.00 for most farang, except only Canadians who must pay $35.00, probably for some reason.

There are many places to get a visa between the train station and the bridge. I do not know if they are better priced or whatever but I have never heard any complaints.

The trip from the train station in Nong Khai to the Friendship Bridge should cost you 20 - 40 baht depending on the number of persons in the tuktuk. At the bridge you will need to pay an additional 10 baht for the bus across the Mekong, which never seems to have the entrance/exit on the correct side (that is the sidewalk side - like Bush airport in Houston), poosibly caused by the confusing situation with the change from left-side to right-side driving conventions. After all thai immigration/lao visa/customs formailities you will have to pay another 10 baht customs fee. You'll be quoted 300 baht for the taxi service to Vien Chang but you can bargain this down to 250. It takes about forty minutes and there are no more oxcarts (fully paved). All that is plus tips, of course.

The taxi drivers can be very helpful in finding accomodation, but if no else just get off in Fountain Sq. and walk around. There are numerous guest houses available.

Hmm, first of all, most farang will pay USD35 this is the price for most western European countries and the US, canadians pay 42 USD. Russians, Japanese and most ASEAN countries get in for free. Indeed one photo is enough, if you don't have one, you might be charged an additional 50 baht or 1 USD, but I sometimes didn't pay this fee.

A private taxi will be 250 baht, less for shared taxi or songtawn into Vientiane, the trip in a private taxi won't take more then 20-25 minutes, as the road into Vientiane is finished now (a few years back it was partly dust, now it is paved all the way).

[pandorasbox-old]

Given the choice I would miss out the capital and go straight to Luang P.
This little town is my fav place in all of S.E.A. It is a great little place with a beautiful setting and lots of temples - if that's your thing.
The number of bars and good food places is very high for such a small place.
Ideally you can walk everywhere.
If you really want to stay in the capital try Settha Palace Hotel. There was a waiter there last year who took personnel service to a new high.

Enjoy

[TrongpaiExpat]

I enjoyed the first part of the evening but cant remember the second part, I woke up to find all my valuables gone, including passport, money, phone etc.

I had been drugged and was the victim of Laos thives. When I awoke I had a massive head ache and felt very tired and groggy.


It happens in Thailand too. Some Swiss tourist told me last month he met a boy at DJ Station, took him to Phuket and he had one of these Micky-Finn thefts done on him.

In Hanoi the popular scam is being taken to a VIP bar and then getting a huge bill. When you refuse to pay they threaten to call the police. The one guy I know that told me it happen to him, he said, OK call the police and they reduced the bill, he paid.